Car-fender



( o Model.) z

C. M. VANDEGRIFT.

GAB. FENDER.

N0. 544,139. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

3o i wardly and have attached to their lower exor picked up and carriedwithout serious in" UNITED STATES PATENT ENCE.

CHARLES M. VANDEGRIFT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,139, dated August6, 189 5.

- Application filed April 19, 1895. Serial No. 546,328. (No model.)

of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andV useful Improvement inCar-Fenders, which improvement is fully set forthin thefollowingspecitication and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a novel construction of car-fender which can bereadily applied to a car, by meansof which any object struck therebywill be thrown from the track jury thereto.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will behereinafter set forth.

Figure l represents a side elevation of a car-fender embodying lmyinvention. Fig. 2 :represents a plan view of the same partially ibnsection, the/section being taken online wir,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the'twofigures. i

Referring to the drawings, A designates the platform of a car having thedashboard B attached thereto. 4

C designates brackets, which are attached to the under side of saidplatform, which project forwardly and have pivoted thereto at C thelevers D, which normallyincline downtremities the lugs E and F, saidlevers being .suitably braced by means of the diagonallyarranged bars Gand the cross-bar H, which extends transversely to the line of movementof the car.

J designates the top of the dashboard B, to which is attached theconnection K, which may be a chain, cord, rope, or other similar device,and at its lower extremity divides and has a portion L extending inopposite directions and connected to the latches M, each ot' which arepivoted at N to the upright bar P, which has its lower endpivotallyattached at C to said brackets C and levers D, said latches M havingtheir forward ends bent and engaging suitable eyes M', which are securedto said levers D.

Q designates an extension of said connection K, which extends forwardlyand divides, having its ends Q attached to the hooks or straps Q2.

R designates a spring plate or treadle which has one end attached to theplatform A, while its other end projects through the dashboard B and isadapted to be pressed by the footof the Inotorman when desired, saidtreadle R having one end of the connection S attached thereto, the otherend thereof being attached to an end of the catch T, which is pivoted tothe bracket V, which is secured to the dashboard B, the end T of saidcatch engaging a suitable portion o'f the cross-bar N', which extendsbetween the bars P, said catch being held 4normally in the positionshown in Fig. l by means of the spring U, which has an end securedto thebracket V in the present instance. y

V designates a buffer, which may be made of rubber, leather, or othersuitable yielding material, and which extends transversely of the fenderand has its ends supported in the hooks or strapsQ2, which latter arepivotally attached to the rods V2, which are movably mounted in the lugsE and F and have the springs X interposed between said lugs E and thecollar or head W', said rods being heldin position by means of a nut F(or other similar device and said straps Q2 being braced and held by thecross-rod W.

TheV operation is as follows: The buffer V is normally a short distanceabove the track, as indicated in Fig. 1, and it is evident that if anobject is struck the same will be thrown from the track or caughtwithout injury in the cradle formed by the netting A', which may beattached to suitable portions of the fender,'said buffer yieldingslightly by reason of the sprin gs X when an obj ect is struck. If itshould be desired by the motorman to let the fender drop or to depressthe same before reaching an object, he presses the treadle R down withhis foot, thereby exerting a pull on the end of the catch T, elevatingthe end of said catch and releasing the bar N, thus allowing the fenderto drop toward the track. When it is desired to raise the fender themotorman pulls on the cord, chain, or other connection K in thedirection of the arrow, thereby lifting the latches M out of engagementwith the eyes M', while a further pull on sad connection K will exert a4pull onthe connection Q, which will be transmitted to the hooks Q2, andthe fender can thus be IOO raised instantly into a nearly vertical orfolded position, as is evident, which is especially desii-able wheneconomy ot' space is required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car fender, the pivoted leversD snitably connected, and providedwith the eyes M', the pivotedlatches M, and the connections K, attachedto said latches, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. In a car fender, the levers D, pivoted to the brackets C, and havinglugs on their outer endsthe rods V2 mounted in said lugs, the straps Q2pivotally attached to said rods, and the connections K, with portions Qsecured to said straps, said parts being combined substantially asdescribed.

3. In a car fender, the levers D, the bars P, and the cross-pieces N',the catch T adapted to engage the latter, and having a spring U bearingthereon, the end of said catch having a connection leading to thetreadle R, the latches M common to said levers and bars, the connectionK leading to said latches, a cross bar common to said levers D, thetransverse buffer V pivotally attached to rods which are movably mountedon said levers D, the springs X and the netting A', the above partsbeing combined substantially as described.

4. A car fender consisting of levers, supporting devices therefor, rodsmovable in said levers, hooks pivotally attached to said rods, springsinclosing the latter, a buffer mounted in said hooks, and a netting,said parts being combined substantially as described.

5. In a car fender the pivoted levers D, having the eyes M', the latchesM engaging said eyes, lugs .on said levers, the rods V2 in said lugs,the straps Q2 pivotally attached to said rods, andthe connections K,having a portion L secured to said latches, and a portion Qsecured tosaid straps, said parts being cornbined substantially as described.

6. A car fender consisting of a netting, levers and bars, latches andeyes common thereto, a buffer attached to yielding devices mounted insaid levers, means for raising the fender and unhooking said latchesinunison, and means for sustaining said fender in its normal position,substantially as described.

7. In a car fender, pivoted levers, having lugs thereon, rods in saidlugs, straps pivotally secured to said rods, a butter supported in saidstraps, and springs bearing against said lugs and straps, said partsbeing combined substantially as described.

CHARLES M. VANDEGRIF'I.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WInDERsnElM, E. Il. FAIRBANKS.

